American Standard Version
Luke 2:2
2This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Luke 2:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
- New International Version (NIV)(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
Context of Luke 2:2
1Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
Read all of Luke 2Luke 2:2 word by word
αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Luke 2:2
- Acts 5:37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
- Luke 3:1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
- Acts 13:7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
- Acts 18:12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,
- Acts 23:26Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
- Acts 26:30And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Commentaries on Luke 2:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2This taxing was first made when Cyrenius, etc. - The next difficulty in this text is found in this verse, which may be translated, Now this first enrolment was made when Quirinus was governor of Syria. It is easily proved, and has been proved often, that Caius Sulpicius Quirinus, the person mentioned in the text, was not governor of Syria, till ten or twelve years after the birth of our Lord. St. Matthew says that our Lord was born in the reign of Herod…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And this taxing was first made - This verse has given as much perplexity, perhaps, as any one in the New Testament. The difficulty consists in the fact that “Cyrenius,” or “Quirinius,” was not governor of Syria until 12 or 15 years after the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born during the reign of Herod. At that time “Varus” was president of Syria. Herod was succeeded by “Archelaus,” who reigned eight or nine years; and after he was removed, Judea was annexed…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Quirinius was governor of Syria: He held this position from AD 6 to AD 9. Earlier, from 6 to 4 BC, he also had authority in Judea, perhaps through a form of joint rule. He may have begun the census (an official count of people for taxes). Historical records mention three other censuses at that time in Syria, Gaul, and Spain. It would not be unusual to have one in Judea, even though no non-biblical record mentions it. Jesus was born around 6 to 4 BC…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. first ... when Cyrenius, &c.--a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about ten years after the birth of Christ, and the "taxing" under his administration was what led to the insurrection mentioned in Ac 5:37. That there was a taxing, however, of the whole Roman Empire under Augustus, is now admitted by all; and candid critics, even of skeptical tendency, are ready to allow that there…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 2:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries